McLaren Artura 1000GP: Bruce McLaren's legacy honoured with ultra-rare Artura

McLaren has unveiled an ultra-exclusive version of its Altura supercar, the Artura 1000GP, to mark a historic moment for the company's racing team founded by Kiwi driver and engineer, Bruce McLaren.

Created by the marque's bespoke division, McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the Artura 1000GP celebrates the company's 1000th race start in Formula 1 and will be limited to just 10 customer cars worldwide, making it one of the rarest modern McLarens ever produced.

The special edition takes inspiration from a special one-off livery to be worn by the 2026 McLaren MCL40 Formula 1 car driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. The design features bespoke 1000GP graphics across the bonnet, lower body sides, and mirror caps.

Additional touches include heritage-inspired pinstriping on the front splitter and rear diffuser, while a metallic papaya plaque inside the cabin commemorates McLaren Racing's landmark achievement.

McLaren says the design reflects the team's resilience and determination throughout its six decades in motorsport.

"Racing and road cars have always been shaped by the same mindset at McLaren, and the McLaren Artura 1000GP by MSO celebrates that shared foundation," said McLaren Group Holdings CEO Nick Collins.

"It reflects the environment Bruce created – an environment built on collective ambition, engineering excellence and a unified approach to progress."

The milestone is a significant one for McLaren Racing. When it lines up on the Monaco grid, it will become only the second Formula 1 team after Scuderia Ferrari to reach 1000 Grand Prix starts.

Over that period McLaren has won 203 Formula 1 races and secured 10 Constructors' World Championships.

The team's history includes some of the sport's most celebrated drivers, including Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Mika Häkkinen, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Emerson Fittipaldi and New Zealander Denny Hulme.

The McLaren F1 story began in 1963 when Bruce McLaren established a small racing team in England, initially building and running race cars for international sports car championships and Formula racing while also competing as a driver himself. The team made its Formula 1 debut in 1966 and quickly established a reputation for engineering innovation and competitiveness.

Born in Auckland, Bruce McLaren remains one of New Zealand motorsport's most influential figures. He won his first Formula 1 Grand Prix at the age of 22, going on to build the foundations of what would become the modern McLaren F1 team before his death in 1970.

The Artura 1000GP is based on the standard McLaren Artura, which serves as the British brand's entry-level supercar.

In New Zealand, the Artura is priced from $395,000 before on-road costs. It combines a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 515kW of power and 720Nm of torque, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

A 7.4kWh lithium-ion battery also enables the supercar to drive up to 33km on electric power alone.

McLaren claims the plug-in hybrid supercar can sprint from 0-100km/h in around 3.0 seconds and reach a top speed of approximately 330km/h.

While McLaren hasn't announced pricing for the Artura 1000GP, its rarity and MSO enhancements are expected to place it well above the standard Artura's asking price.

With just 10 examples destined for customers globally, the Artura 1000GP is as much a collector's item as it is a celebration of one of Formula 1's most successful teams and the enduring legacy of New Zealand motorsport pioneer Bruce McLaren.